“The Hesleys”

Description

Stories about the outcast Hesley family. Mrs. Hesley throws a man's boots in the street for refusing to board with her. She steals sheep. Her daughter cannot not find a husband even when she goes to Newark. And so forth

Supplemental text

Hesleys, The
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Norman Cazden, Herbert Haufrecht, Norman Studer, Folk Songs
of the Catskills, #163B, pp. 599-561. As recalled by Elwyn Davis.

There is a family lived under the hill,
And talk of their neighbors we know they will,
But the neighbors say that they don't care,
For it is seldom they ever go there.

  Refrain:
  The Hesleys, the Hesleys, we'll never go there anymore;
  The Hesleys, the Hesleys, we'll never go there anymore.

Old Mrs. Hesley, she's got a long tongue;
Old John's eyes cock to the sun:
His neighbors think he likes to keep,
For he stole one of Joe Hill's buck sheep.

  Refrain:
  The bucksheep, the bucksheep, they'll never go there anymore;
  The bucksheep, the bucksheep, they'll never go there anymore.

(Stanzas 1, 3 of 8)

References

1. FSCatskills 163, "The Buck Sheep-The Hesleys" (1 text+fragment, 1 tune)
2. ST FSC163 (Partial)
3. BI, FSC163